No Monkey, No Cry

O’ the pain of it all. Lopburi has been cancelled due to the stubborn limb that refuses to walk and seems only to be getting worse. NO MONKEYS!:(

Another long night bus ending in an early return to Bangkok and cheap hotel with a magnificent view. A room whose ceiling becomes all too familiar to Emmily. A doctors appointment is scheduled the next day. A costly venture no thanks to our insurance ($200, Geeez) Our first aid kit is beefed up with pills, ointments, bandages and implements. Tropical infections are no fun.

Dotahn continues his foraging for supplies and scoping out the neighbourhood, returning on one of his missions with a pair of crutches borrowed from the friendly host of our guest-house. Wooo Hoo, mobility! Lets get outta this room and see a movie.

Slowly, slowly we venture a little more. Luckily our guest-house is in the midst of it all and right next door to the Bangkok Arts & Culture Centre.Thailand has a thriving arts scene, themes of Thai mythology and the war of politics feature strongly. A fascinating sight is a group of men in military uniform being shown around the gallery for a cultural excursion. But, soon enough cripple wife needs a break and it’s back to the guest-house and its familiar ceiling.

Thanks to the miracle of antibiotics and the care of nurseTahn the wonderful feat of walking can once again be enjoyed by Emm. To celebrate we walk, taking in the sites and sounds of the crazy twisted concrete wonderland of Bangkok. Many street performers colour the streets amidst the many market stalls that spring up in any available surface, battling for shoppers attention as they leave the giant malls that plague the area of Siam . An art installation in a shipping container advertisers a free tattoo with the slogan “with love comes suffering” and the constant smiles of Tuk Tuk drivers try to catch our attention at every turn.

With its heady air of smog and spices, heated days broken by incredible thunderstorms, begging and buying. Bangkok seems to be a giant market. Every available space on every footpath, underpass, train station and park becomes a maze of consumerism.

A trip to the infamous Koh Sarn Rd had us weaving around more markets and many a tourist, but the beer and food are fantastic for the price, however we missed Thai Elvis again. Continuing with the theme, more galleries are visited in Silom and the weekend brings forth the biggest market of all, The Chatuchak Markets. These are the markets which go on forever and ever. Like a rabbit warren of goods, rows upon twisting rows, covered tunnels, open sprawls and endless clothes, it is daunting and tiring within the first 10 minutes.

But the best part of of these last remaining days was a day out with old friends. Michelle and Kalani happened to be passing through after a relaxing beach retreat down south. A site for teary eyed reunion, hugs saved up over these months were shared and the four of us moseyed forth on the hunt for lunch.

We journeyed through crowded streets to once again explore the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre, munching on Thai food and pushing through the inescapable markets only to have to say goodbyes, this time for only a brief separation. Seeing the Robinsons gave us a hankering for friends and family, for returning to Melbourne and all we call home.

The next few days were filled with all the galleries we could find. Installation, contemporary weirdness, painting and photography, Bangkok’s art scene is thriving and modern. A farewell drink at a bar we visited on our honeymoon brought memories with golden edges and we stumbled home filled with the warm glow of all our adventures together.

The city, the infection and the travel fatigue had combined into a general yearning for home. Having been to so many other cities around the world we realised just how awesome Melbourne is, and how Australia is one of the most amazing countries in the world. We were ready to return, there’s no place like home.